July
Germany, Diplomacy
Hitler’s foreign minister, Ribbentrop, starts trade talks between the Soviet Union and Germany, which include secret talks on improving political relations and mutual spheres of influence.
Third Reich Day by Day: July 1939
Despite the appeasement of Great Britain and France, Hitler’s territorial ambitions could only be satisfied by the conquest of Poland. Great Britain and France finally realized that Hitler was determined to absorb Poland just as he had the Austrians and Czechs. They therefore signed treaties with the Poles guaranteeing to declare war on Germany should Hitler invade. But the world was stunned by the Russo-German Non-Aggression Treaty, which sealed the fate of Poland. On September 1 German forces attacked Poland. World War II had begun.